The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the standard diagnostic tool for epidemiology, health management and clinical purposes. This includes the analysis of the general health situation of population groups. It is used to monitor the incidence and prevalence of diseases and other health problems.

ICD-10 was endorsed by the Forty-third World Health Assembly in May 1990 and came into use in World Health Organization Member States as from 1994. The implementation date for ICD-10 was October 1, 2015.

There are differences between ICD-9 and ICD-10 are significant, including a sizeable increase in the number of new codes to address specificity. Physicians will need to move quickly to educate themselves and their staff about this major change so they can meet the October 1, 2015 compliance deadline.